Abstract
The influence of nickel on the neutron irradiation embrittlement of Ni-Mo-Cr reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels was investigated using alloys containing nickel in the range of 0.9–3.5 wt%. In all investigated alloys, the neutron irradiation with two dose conditions of 4.5 × 1019 neutron/cm2 at 290 °C and 9.0 × 1019 neutron/cm2 at 290 °C, respectively, increased the hardness and ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). However, the increases of the hardness and DBTT resulting from the neutron irradiation were primarily affected by the irradiation dose that is closely related to the generation of irradiation defects, but not by the nickel content. In addition, a linear relationship between the changes in the hardness and DBTT subjected to the irradiation was confirmed. These results demonstrate that increasing the nickel content up to 3.5 wt% does not have a harmful effect on the irradiation embrittlement of Ni-Mo-Cr reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
G. R. Odette and G. E. Lucas, Radiation Embrittlement of Nuclear Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels: An International Review (Second Volume), ASTM STP 909, p.206 (1986).
G. R. Odette, Scripta Metall. 17, 1183 (1983).
A. V. Nikolaeva, Y. A. Nikolaev, and A. M. Kryukov, J. Nucl. Mater. 218, 85 (1994).
M. K. Miller, P. Pareige, and M. G. Burke, Mater. Charact. 44, 235 (2000).
A. V. Nikolaeva and Y. A. Nikolaev, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 234–236, 915 (1997).
J. R. Hawthorne, Proc. 11th Conference on the Effects of Radiation on Materials, ASTM STP 782, p.375 (1982).
J. R. Hawthorne, Nucl. Eng. Design 89, 223 (1985).
R. J. Stofanak, T. J. Poskie, Y. Y. Li, and G. L. Wire, Proc. 6th Int. Symp. on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power System — Water Reactors, (eds. R. E. Gold and E. P. Simonen), p.757, The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society, Warrendale, PA, USA (1993).
H. Watanabe, S. Masaki, S. Masubuchi, N. Yoshida, and K. Dohi, J. Nucl. Mater. (2012), (In press).
Y.-R. Im, Y. J. Oh, B.-J. Lee, J. H. Hong, and H.-C. Lee, J. Nucl. Mater. 297, 138 (2001).
A. Kimura, T. Morimura, R. Kasada, H. Matsui, A. Hasegawa, and K. Abe, Effects of Radiation on Materials: 19th International Symposium, ASTM STP 1366, p. 626 (2000).
J. Lee, I. Kim, and A. Kimura, J. Nucl. Sci. Tech. 40, 664 (2003).
N. Okuda, R. Kasada, and A. Kimura, J. Nucl. Mater. 336–338, 974 (2009).
R. Kasada, T. Kudo, A. Kimura, H. Matsui, and M. Narui, J. ASTM International 2, 213 (2005).
T. Suzuki, K. Itoh, Y. Naruse, H. Matsui, and A. Kimura, Effects of Radiation on Materials: 19th International Symposium, ASTM STP 1366, p. 266 (2000).
R. E. Stoller, Effects of Radiation on Materials: 16th International Symposium, ASTM STP 1175, p. 394 (1993).
R. Kasada and A. Kimura, J. Nucl. Mater. 283, 188 (2000).
Y.-R. Im, B.-J. Lee, Y. J. Oh, J. H. Hong, and H.-C. Lee, J. Nucl. Mater. 324, 33 (2004).
K. Z. Min, J. H. Bae, K. Kim, and D. J. Lee, Korean J. Met. Mater. 49, 766 (2011).
M. K. Miller, A. A. Chernobaeva, Y. I. Shtrombakh, K. F. Russell, R. K. Nanstad, D. Y. Erak, and O. O. Zabusov, J. Nucl. Mater. 385, 615 (2009).
M. K. Miller, M. A. Sokolov, R. K. Nanstad, and K. F. Russell, J. Nucl. Mater. 351, 187 (2006).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, CH., Kasada, R., Kimura, A. et al. Effect of nickel content on the neutron irradiation embrittlement of Ni-Mo-Cr steels. Met. Mater. Int. 19, 1203–1208 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-013-6007-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-013-6007-x